SAT and ACT requires #2 pencils and so do proficiency tests. You at least have to take the state proficiency, the SAT and ACT are optional and only recommended if you're going to college out of state or just college in general as some local schools use it as placement. Normal class tests are generally scan-tron for most schools across the US so I'm actually amazed that you either don't do scan-tron tests or you simply have machines that read any type of marking, instead of only #2 lead. If it's the latter, then I'm even more amazed at the fact that you and probably other students have the balls to use a pen on a scan-tron. It's a common mistake to accidentally skip a question and have to erase all of your answers just to move the answers to the correct slot.